Turtles at Boatyard Beach

[cnjoy26]

Just looking for a little more info. What is the process for going to snorkel with turtles from boatyard beach? Is there a line you stand in? How long is the line? Just looking for a little more details! Thanks!

[JohninDC]

The boat tours leave a couple of times a day.  You will hear an announcement over the PA system.  Double check the process when you arrive and buy your wrist bands.

[Ontario Cruiser]

8 hours ago, cnjoy26 said:

Just looking for a little more info. What is the process for going to snorkel with turtles from boatyard beach? Is there a line you stand in? How long is the line? Just looking for a little more details! Thanks!

You don't have to the Boatyard to go snorkeling. People are all along Carlise bay selling the turtles excursion

OntarioCruiser

[JohninDC]

But if you go to the Boatyard the tour is included in your admission fee. 

[Suzieanna]

When we went to The Boatyard we paid somewhere around 25 US dollars?

 

That gets you in, your lounger and a drink.   there is a long pier.   At the end of the pier there is a rope swing - which was really good fun!   There  is also a couple of trampolines floating in the sea and big iceberg thing that's a slide.   I couldn't get up on that one! 

 

You put your name down for the boat trip.   They have a clipboard and they put your name down and ask how many are in your party.   You don't get a "time", you just get sent away with the instruction to listen out for your name.   When they call you - you go up and get togged up with a lifejacket etc. 

 

Its not just turtles.   You get taken out over a shipwreck and there are quite a few fish here so you can get in the middle of a school and that's a nice feeling. 

 

I enjoyed it there a lot. 

 

 

[JohninDC]

Thanks for your current feedback! 😎

[Outta My Work Clothes]

Thankx for that update... we are 2 senior but don't believe it adults, was there a bunch of kids?... don't mind them but also don't want to be over run.

[JohninDC]

Boatyard attracts families and kid with the water toys and pier.  For a beach club with fewer kids look up the beach to Harbor Lights or Lobster Alive - no water toys, just chairs, umbrellas, and a bar/restaurant.

Edited January 28, 2019 by JohninDC

[cnjoy26]

Thanks guys, this helps a lot! My only other question is is snorkeling gear included or can you rent it, and do they show you how to use it? 

[JohninDC]

They give you the snorkeling gear on the boat.  One of the staff can show you how to use it - pretty easy.  I would use an inflatable vest  if offered, both for visibility and flotation.  Enjoy! 😎

Edited January 29, 2019 by JohninDC

[kellymccrea]

Would they let you use your own full face snorkel mask?

[JohninDC]

Yes.  I bring my prescription mask all the time on snorkel tours.

[Nebr.cruiser]

We used the beach area right next to the Boatyard--Lobster Alive?--not sure.  For $10 we got a chair, umbrella, one drink and a taxi back to the ship.  We didn't care if we had the rope swing, slides, etc.

 

When we got there a young man came up and offered us a shipwreck/turtle snorkel for $15.  We were able to go more or less when we wanted, or when one of the boats got back.  After an hour or two we went on the tour. He came back to get us when a boat was ready, so no standing in line.

 

 For the price it was very nice.  We had our own snorkels, but they had them on the boat and would show you how to use them.  It wasn't very crowded when we went.

 

Prices are pp., a couple of years ago.

 

 

[Outta My Work Clothes]

Lobster Alive website shows it's a Restaurant... nothing about beach/chairs/umbrella etc.

Harbor Lights on other hand has the complete beach/turtle boat ride packages.

[sft429]

Lobster Alive has beach chairs and umbrellas but a lot fewer than the others.  The chairs are placed farther apart, too.  The emphasis is definitely on the restaurant.  Lots of vendors selling turtle boat packages all along the beach.

 

I think I've attached two pictures from 8 this morning showing the difference in numbers of chairs.  Lobster Alive eventually will have some more back closer to the restaurant before they open.

 

[JohninDC]

Thanks!

[Outta My Work Clothes]

THANKx sft… thinking of heading to Harbor Lights cuz they have a beach/turtle combo at 20 bucks... take a walk down and visit LA.... sure get bite to eat there... heard BY doesn't serve unless you have a bracelet.

[Aplmac]

Some years ago 2011 -yikes!

I did some shots of Lobster Alive's biiig beach umbrellas

- and the food.

[sft429]

5 hours ago, Outta My Work Clothes said:

THANKx sft… thinking of heading to Harbor Lights cuz they have a beach/turtle combo at 20 bucks... take a walk down and visit LA.... sure get bite to eat there... heard BY doesn't serve unless you have a bracelet.

 

I don't think Copa does either, and Harbor Lights had someone sitting by the beach entrance but I had my own beer all week so I didn't try any of them.

 

 

 

[thon]

We were at Boatyard a year or so ago.  We did not go on the-included snorkel tour.  We got there from our ship relatively early (we thought) but still were relegated to chairs 3 or more rows back as I recall.  There were some chairs in the first row with towels on them but nobody there for the longest time.  I’m now wondering if these people had gone on the first snorkle tour and the beach employees were saving their chairs.  If that was the case I might be tempted to go on the snorkel tour - we just don’t want to get back from an early snorkel to find that there are either no more chairs left or we have to sit in row eleven LOL.

 

Now I had not realized that there are a couple of other places just down the beach where we could also rent chairs/umbrellas that may not be as crowded as Boatyard.  We do not need the swing rope, etc. or the 1 included drink.  And snorkling with turtles surrounded by scores of other snorkellers is not necessary for us either - we have snorkeled with scores of turtles elsewhere.  Having a return taxi included in the cost of beach access is nice though.  We’ll be in Barbados Sunday, 31 March on the Silhouette so will have to keep these other options in mind.  The Boatyard has a bit of a party atmosphere I think and being a Sunday there may be considerably more locals  there than on a weekday.

[soonernstlouis]

It’s apparent that the facilities of any of these (Boatyard, Copa, Lobster Alive, etc) are each well worth the admission cost for what you get.

 

I wonder if food and/or drink cost vary much between them much.  Obviously I’d be willing to pay more for an outstanding meal than an average one.  The Boatyard won’t let you even bring an outside drink there & reviews indicate they act like the beach is their property.  Can you walk down the beach, eat, and return or do you lose your chairs?

[sft429]

17 hours ago, thon said:

 

Now I had not realized that there are a couple of other places just down the beach where we could also rent chairs/umbrellas that may not be as crowded as Boatyard.  We do not need the swing rope, etc. or the 1 included drink.  

1

 

If you walk south (left) from the Boatyard there are several places to rent a chair and get drinks and a meal.  The outfit renting chairs that is last in that line is, I believe, a place that only rents chairs.  No bar or food.  They are pretty much right in front of where the boats take the turtle snorkelers.  You would still need to either get a taxi or walk but either would be fairly easy.

[annie99]

We were at Harbour Lights this past week and it was very busy. The Boatyard was even busier. Beautiful beach, but a lot of people. Get there as early as possible .We were in row 4 and we got there at 10:30 am. The umbrellas were almost touching each other in the rows.Food was so - so.

[BNL1213]

What do people do with their stuff when they go on the turtle tours?  Just leave it at the chair?  and it's safe?

[JohninDC]

We left our towels, etc.  Nothing valuable and we asked someone in the next chair to keep an eye on it.